3
Embracing an Ethic of Caring Many people hold strong views on student- athlete pregnancy and parenting. Consider the consequences of an unsupportive pregnancy and parenting policy: Dropping out of athletics Dropping out of college Pressure to have an abortion Concealing the pregnancy Infant homicide

4
Pregnancy in Athletics is Not Uncommon … College Students are Sexually Active: 74% reported being sexually active within the past 12 months »American College Health Association, 2005 15% reported experiencing pregnancy, either theirs or their partner’s »U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, 1997 Women in Athletics are Less Likely to become Pregnant: Less likely to be sexually active, and more likely to use effective birth control consistently. Sabo et. al., Women’s Sports Foundation Report: Her Life Depends On It, 2004 Only 1% of female student-athletes reported pregnancy, compared with 11% of their non-athletics peers. »Kokotailo, Journal of American College Health, 1998 Estimates of Pregnancy Rates for men and women in Athletics Departments are between 10-15%.

5
…yet, Many Athletics Departments are Unprepared Survey of Pregnancy Policies in Athletics Departments (n = 85) No policy Division I 85% Division II94% Division III98% Existing policies vary widely, and many are not in compliance with the law.

6
Pregnant Student-Athletes and Safe Participation Many athletes will be able to continue to participate throughout their pregnancies with accommodations. Training and competing at a high level is generally safe during the first 14 weeks of pregnancy with: –Professional health care monitoring –Plentiful hydration –No contraindications –American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, 2002 10-15% of detected pregnancies miscarry –High level fitness has no effect on this rate of miscarriage

8
Emotional Health of Pregnant and Parenting Student-Athletes An unplanned pregnancy is often traumatic. The number of decisions confronting the student-athlete can be overwhelming. Fear of abandonment by primary support system: family, boyfriend or girlfriend, coach, and teammates. For those that decide to remain pregnant, impending role changes.

9
Pregnant Student-Athletes Need Time and Space to Make Decisions Confidentiality and Disclosure Requirements: Confidential disclosures of pregnancy status to the team physician or certified athletic trainer should only be revealed with written authorization from the student-athlete. Mandatory pregnancy disclosure requirements are discouraged. –Pregnancy may not impact athletic performance. –A safe environment will better facilitate disclosure.

14
Misconduct Involving Premarital Sex Disciplining pregnant student-athletes for engaging in premarital sex is discouraged. –These rules discriminate against women because only women become pregnant as a result of sexual relations. –Federal law prohibits an institution from punishing pregnant students for engaging in premarital sex unless it imposes a similar penalty on male and non- pregnant female students who have engaged in premarital sex. –Negative treatment may have the unintended consequence of encouraging abortion.

15
RETALIATION: An effective pregnancy and parenting policy hinges on the willingness of those within the institutional community to speak out on behalf of pregnant and parenting student-athletes. Anyone who reports pregnancy discrimination is protected from retaliation.